Two men have been charged with drugs offences linked to the seizure of £1m of cannabis in Northern Ireland.

The drugs were discovered during a PSNI investigation into international drug trafficking.

The two Chinese men with addresses in south Belfast appeared at a special court in Newtownards on Saturday.

Zhenchao Chen, 34, from Annadale flats and Baosen Zhao, 53, of Coolfin Street were charged with importing cannabis and conspiracy to supply it.

Mr Chen was further charged with possessing drugs and cultivating cannabis at a property at Newry Road, Mullaghbawn, south Armagh, between January and April 2015.

The men made no comment during a brief court hearing and were remanded in custody.

Meanwhile, two men aged 23 and 30 who were arrested last week by detectives from Organised Crime Branch investigating the international drugs trafficking operation have been released on bail pending further police enquiries.